After more than 1000 phone calls, almost 100 home visits and upteen logs sawed, we took off our Inspiritus volunteer Tshirts and headed to Charleston. There we found a big soft bed, real shower and a slower pace.
We left knowing many people's yards were cleared up…but many more were not. A couple large groups of volunteers are coming mid Feb and we truly hope that they will be able to clean up lots more of the storm damage so the large pile of assessments will dwindle rapidly. I can only hope!
It has been a unique experience to spend so much time with locals. To sit on their couches, get shown family pictures, hear about their health issues & how hard it is for them to do anything and their hurricane stories. One of the questions on the assessment is "Are you over 65?" So many of them who can barely walk to the door or get up out of the chair, said "No.". I looked around at their home which often was in huge disarray and in need of so much TLC. We've always felt blessed to be as healthy & active as we are BUT meeting so many 9 or more years younger who struggle to do anything and have the minimum, just made our lives feel even more amazing. I will never understand the why us/why them question but without a doubt, I will appreciate our lives more. I can't imagine being as miserable as Mr. Thorne who is so angry at the world and wanted to tell us all about it, often crying & quoting the Bible. He asked us for a hug saying it had been months since he was touched. We spent an hour there and still had to back ourselves to our car in order to finally leave.
We are also leaving behind the Garden City Methodist Church who generously gave us a nice room to sleep in and use of their huge kitchen…even got some left over funeral food! We did attend their Sunday church services which was a total throw-back to the 60-70's. Sang only from the hymnals and the kids danced in the aisles & one even joined the 7 member choir. Babies were being passed around and made to laugh. Matt called on people by name to hear prayer requests. Then the kids were called up for a children's time before taken out. Pastor Matt's sermon seemed to be personal for the 50+ in the pews. The kids then came back to be part of the communion as we knelt at the railing and were given a small piece of bread (which actually was from a loaf of bread Kenny, a day volunteer had made for us.) Matt's wife followed him and held out a gold carrier filled with tiny cups of grape juice. Remember that?
Speaking of church, there's one on most every block around here. Many huge with gorgeous stain-glass windows, large awnings & tall steeples…others very simple. I must confess, it actually makes me mad. Also in town on many busy sidewalks, there are stands filled with bibles & other religious books manned by people who ask if you want to hear about Jesus. I was so tempted so say, "Wouldn't it make Jesus so much happier if you were helping the many people who need help??" I know that's a bias of mine—not walking the talk. I know…I know…I don't know if they do reach out & help others?? Still I wonder if the $$ that goes into building & maintaining all these churches that are only used a couple hours a week could be used instead to make people's lives better?? Isn't that what Jesus wanted??
I also wonder what some of these people who wanted to teach us more about the Bible would have said to Shannon (another volunteer) who feels like the Bible story that blames the first sin on Eve was the authors way of making sure women were the lesser of the two. Without a doubt, our time in Savannah (and earlier in Valdosta) broadened my perspective and understanding of people who live in Georgia and those who Helene impacted. It will not be forgotten.
